In Summer 2021 I received a CPD grant from the Anna Plowden/Clothworkers’ Foundation, and set up a project with Worthing Museum to assess and complete remedial conservation of their archaeological metalwork collection.
Worthing is close to my home town, Brighton, and I knew that Worthing had a ‘bursting at the seams’ store just full of interesting social history. This ranged from ancient history – Bronze age axe hoards, Saxon jewellery and burial goods, Roman objects – to recent 20th century photography, toys, diaries, homeware and the largest collection of day-to-day clothes in the UK!
Curator of Archaeology James Sainsbury was just as excited about the collab, never having had an objects conservator at the museum before. Apart from basic assessment and conservation, I instigated a conservation documentation system, recommended preventive conservation measures, undertook conservation of objects which came in fresh from a dig, and took part in judging Worthing’s ‘Open 21’ Art competition.
One of the tasks I also volunteered for was writing a regular blog post, and doing public Q and A’s which I enjoyed immensely. You can read all the blog posts on the Worthing Museum website, which include treatments and information on the Edburton Hoard, the Sompting Hoard and finds from a Roman site on the South Downs.
https://wtm.uk/category/museum-blog/
